ageing

• what do genetic pre-programming theories of ageing suggest about ageing?

  -humans are genetically programmed to initiate + advance the ageing process over time

  -ageing process is explained at level of dna, cells, tissue, organs

  -inbuilt genetic process that is universal + occurs around the same time
• what do wear and tear theories suggest about the ageing process?

  -have ageing genes= with every cell/ division/ replication telomeres (part of our dna + ends of chromosomes) shorten until they become so small that the cell can no longer replicate + dies

  -longer childhood telemeres predict longevity
• what are the two types of ageing (biological)?

  -primary

  -secondary
• what is primary ageing?

  -irreversible + universal changes

  -occur with time

  -all processes of senescence= all parts of body slow down +systems become less efficient

  -speeds up later in life
• individual variability in ageing driven by both nature and nurture
• what is secondary ageing?


  -changes caused by environmental influences eg environmental pollution

  -we can slow down/ prevent ageing process

  -selective meaning varies amongst individuals

  -
• how can you measure secondary ageing objectively?


  -physical decline

  -fratility

  -weakened functioning

  -limited mobility
• how can you measure secondary ageing subjectively?

  -own perceived quality of life that can be triggered by poor environmental influences
• Moriarty et al 2005


  -tracking healthy days

  -low socioeconomic status group experienced more perceived unhealthy days
• what is structured dependency?

  -caused by government regulations that causes older people to feel less integrated in society

  -eg through forced retirement

  -weakens financial + social status so that they depend on others
• what is productive ageing?


  -from structured dependency to this

  -continued employment in recognition of increases in life expectancy

  -eg phased retirement
• what are individual factors that affect ageing?

  -social and environmental contexts

  -attitude to ourselves
• how do social and environmental contexts affect ageing?

  -social support provided by communities and neighborhoods and safety

  -communities with good infrastructure, public transport etc
• how do attitudes towards ourselves affect effects felt by ageing?

  -positive vs negative views of ageing

  -extent to which we set ourselves personal limitations regarding our age
• ageism= affects treatment in media, healthcare (duration of treatment) , workforce
• what does the disengagement theory of ageing suggest?


  -old people disengage from society eg jobs, socialising

  -mutual withdrawal/ reciporical withdrawal

  -mutual agreement society that they should withdraw

  -structured dependency

  -ageing is a developmental task with changing norms
• what happens to social interactions/ partners as we age?

  -general decline in number of social partners

  -become more selective of people we choose to have as social partners + invest time in those with rewards

  -
• what are the 3 aspects of ageing according to disengagement theory?

  -shrinkage of life space as older people stay close to where they live + less exploration + selective socialisation

  -increased individuality + learn to be alone more

  -acceptance of changes eg in work , social roles , increased alone time
• what is the support for disengagement theory?


  -older people do enjoy more select activities, relationships that are more emotionally meaningful + relevant to identity
• what is meant by socioemotional selectivity?


  -older people enjoy select activities + relationships that bring them more emotional satisfaction
• what are the criticisms of disengagement theory?

  -disengagement is not universal

  -older people have different types/ levels of disengagement eg mental, social

  -perpetuate negative stereotypes

  -outdated
• what is selectivity theory of age?


  -people become more selective in activities, relationships, where they live but not entirely disengaged
• what is meant by sucessful ageing?

  -related to successful management of ageing

  -quality of life matters eg optimal physcial ,psychological, social possibilities

  -emphasis on prevention and delay of health related declines

  -add life to years
• what is meant by successful management of ageing?

  -financial security , access to good health care, safe housing, diverse social services, opportunities for lifelong learning
• what are the components of successful ageing?

  -good health

  -physical and mental activity

  -social + productivity engagement with life

  -view old age as a variable rather than universal decline

  -based on individual values + previous life paths which predict attainment in some of these components but not all
• what factors predict good health in old age?

  -engagement in rehabilitation

  -positive responses to health crises

  -physical and mental activity that can be low impact eg walking, gardening, home activities
• what is meant by cognitive reserve?

  -linked to education + staying cognitively active

  -mind's resistance to damage of the brain

  -built throughout our life
• how can someone build cognitive reserve?

  -active learning

  -intellectual work

  -regularly engaging in mentally stimulating activities
• what does verbal intelligence and education correlate with?

  -physical health + social engagement

  -life long learning maintains better physical health + companionship
• what is the biggest predictor for making new connections in the brain?

  -exposure to novelty
• Guse and Masesar 1999

  -greater satisfaction through frequent contact with family + friends

  -frequency of contact reduces feelings of loneliness

  -perceived social support can provide positive outlook

  -perceived feeling of mattering to others

  -feeling of sufficent autonomy + independence
• what can improve quality of life + mental health?

  -perceived feelings

  -autonomy + independence

  -feeling of mattering to others

  -perceived rather than actual social support
• how does productivity/ wealth contribute to successful ageing?

  -improves overall life satisfaction

  -builds broader social networks , gives meaning, life satisfaction, less time to focus on health issues

  -organisational volunteering benefits health + lowers mortality rates

  -engage in learning
• what are encore careers?

  -refers to work in the second half of life

  -desire to do something more meaningful even if job pays less
• what is university of the third age?

  -develop learning in a friendly and informal environment
• what are the criticisms of successful ageing theory?

  -not everyone will age successfully

  -may reduce funding for medical research into treatments for conditions of less successful ageing

  -need balance between optimism and realities of old age
• how have attitudes towards death in western europe changed?

  -less frequently exposed to it as larger families used to live together + increased mortality rate

  -live separate to our parents + transfer old parents in care homes

  -introduction of hospice care

  -right to die = ending life sustaining treatment + medical aid in dying
• what is meant by the institutionalization of death?

  -dont live in large families with parents anymore

  -parents put in care homes to die
• what are the concerns surrounding death?

  -right to die

  -medical aid in dying = prescribing a lethal dose of drugs at patients own request + only if they are incurably ill
• how do children view death?

  -don't understand that death is permanent and irreversible

  -associate death with sleep as it is a concept that they are familiar with